history is fun

The Tfu project for the year 2007 is to instill in the students an understanding and appreciation of the past and at the same time see how the past is currently linked to the present. In order to have such an appreciation students are expected to conduct interviews with persons who have had first hand experience in the particular project or know of people who have had a say in the construction or the evolution of that particular trade or activity.


Example 1
If you want to understand the contribution of the Siglap Mosque to the Malay community you should interview the people who have been visiting the mosque for many years or talk to the religious teachers who have been instrumental in the running and construction of the mosque.

Example 2
The project is not just restricted to buildings alone but it can also extend to persons, communities, clans etc. You can interview people like Wayang artistes, tricycle man, Indian fortuneteller, Malay boat builders etc to understand their contribution to their community and people.


After conducting the interview and transcribing it, you will visit the relevant site or area, use a camera to capture the subject of your study. If you are studying on a particular trade or practice, you can take pictures of the people at work. If the trade has vanished, you can take pictures of your interviewee, request for his past pictures or even take pictures of the place where she or he used to work.

After all the photo sessions, you can visit the library and national archives or even search the internet for photographs and information of your subject as in the past. Reflecting on the themes of past and present, change and continuity, you can then reflect on what you have researched on and attempt to understand and appreciate the past and see how it is linked to the present or the present to the past.

Finally, you will share your photographs, transcripts, write-ups and reflections on the history blog site and be prepared to answer questions that might be posted on the blog regarding your topic.

Excellent photographs from this project will be exhibited in the coming Humanities Week Project Exhibition.

Tfu project work for Sec 2 2007

Throughline: Finding the present in the past.

Theme: Contributions of the immigrants to Singapore’s development

Understanding Goals: To understand and appreciate the contributions of immigrants through personal involvement by oral History and recording the present using the camera.

Step 1: Identify and explain why you choose this group or person for their research.
Activity: Worksheet
(10 Marks)


Step 2: Able to conduct an oral History interview that reflects step 1.
Activity: Come out with appropriate questions and transcripts for the interview session.
(10 Marks)


Step 3: Choose a subject for photography based on theme and description.
Activity: Visiting the relevant site/subject pertaining to the project.
(10 Marks)


Step 4: Integrating the interview and photographs on the chosen subject and reflecting the following themes:
(i) Past and present
(II) Change and continuity
(III) Future

Activity: Collating their projects onto the photo blog
(10 Marks)

Optional: Ability to post answer(s) to the questions from fellow students and teachers in the blog

Here are some other possibilities that you can explore:

1. Religious buildings and its place in history

2. Areas – e.g. Katong and its relation to the Eurasian community

3. Housing Estates – e.g. Tiong Bahru – first public housing estate in Singapore

4. Clans, associations, clubs, guilds, etc. – e.g. Singapore Swimming Club and its history

5. People in the ‘vanishing’ trade and their contribution – e.g. Arab traders in Beach Road, Malay traditional masseurs, Malay funeral undertaker, Chinese street opera performers, Chinese paper-making expert, Indian astrologer, Indian spice sellers, etc.

6. Group of people and their contributions – e.g. Gurkhas’ unit in Singapore, Indian priests, a unit in the police force, postman and the history of postal services, older generation of DJs, newscasters from radio stations and the history of radio programmes

7. Public buildings, its history and contribution – e.g. National Stadium, oldest pool in Singapore, theatre, police stations, schools, reservoirs, hospital

8. Private housing and establishments - old hotels, old shopping centres, old cinemas, old folks home and its history, charity organizations

9. Many other possibilities …just remember in exploring our history, heritage and memory, it is not the places nor buildings that we are emphasizing. The emphasis should be on the people. It is people who create and give meanings to these places and buildings.

10. Now, it's all over to you guys. Let your historical instinct and imagination run wild. Prove to us that you are more creative and interesting!!!

Nil Sine Labore.